Rethinking Charts and Visuals

I recently read an article about charting and visualization that got me thinking. The piece explored how data visuals often feel rigid and lifeless, caught between the demands of objectivity and the need to tell compelling stories. As someone who has worked with data, I could relate to this tension—how much should we prioritize accuracy over engagement? And does adding creativity to charts make them less effective?

The Balance Between Objectivity and Storytelling

When presenting data, we often assume that sticking to standardized formats—clear, neutral, and to the point—is the only way to be objective. But there’s a problem: dry, purely technical charts often fail to communicate insights effectively. Data is more than numbers; it tells a story, and sometimes that story needs more than default settings in a spreadsheet.

The comparison to movies is useful here. Some films are purely factual, while others use storytelling techniques to draw the audience in. The same applies to charts. A well-crafted visualization doesn’t just present facts—it invites curiosity, making the audience more likely to engage and understand the information.

Breaking Away from Generic Charts

A common issue is the overuse of standard “Excel-style” charts—basic bar graphs, pie charts, and uninspiring line graphs that often fail to capture the nuances of data. These visuals are serviceable but rarely memorable. More importantly, they don’t always communicate the scale, structure, or complexity of the information being presented.

Take infrastructure projects, for example. Trying to represent something vast and intricate using a simple, one-size-fits-all graph can make it harder to grasp the full picture. Instead, we should think about designing visuals that reflect the scale and relationships within the data—whether that means using maps, network diagrams, or more innovative formats tailored to the context.

Making Data More Accessible

For newcomers, data visualization can be intimidating. Overly complex or poorly designed charts can make it difficult to understand key insights. The goal shouldn’t just be to display data, but to guide the viewer through it, making the information more accessible and engaging.

Adding personality to charts—through color, annotations, or alternative layouts—can make them more intuitive. The key is striking a balance between clarity and creativity, ensuring that the message remains clear while keeping the audience engaged.

Good visualizations do more than just present data; they communicate ideas in a way that resonates with people. While objectivity is important, we shouldn’t shy away from making charts more engaging and dynamic. Thoughtful design choices can help break free from the monotony of standard charts and bring data to life, making insights clearer and more impactful. The challenge is not just to present numbers but to tell a story with them—and that’s where creativity comes in.